Wade is currently suspended as the Tigers battle through March Madness because he was allegedly caught discussing payments to players on a phone call. There is reportedly an FBI wiretap of the conversation, but it hasn’t been made public.

That’s the main point of Vitale’s argument when he appeared on “Off the Bench” on 104.5 ESPN. The hosts pointed out that nobody has heard the tape, but the legendary commentator doesn’t seem to care. He also wasn’t pleased to be called a hypocrite over his support for Rick Pitino and not Will Wade.

“I come on your damn show and I’m gonna be on it for ya but don’t sit there and tell me it’s hypocrisy,” Dickie Vshot back at the hosts.

Listen to a snippet of the heated exchange below. You can listen to the entire interview here.

This is why I love Dickie V. The man just doesn’t back down, and certainly didn’t take well to being called a hypocrite. I love it!

Old men digging into the trenches during an argument is always entertaining as hell. The hosts simply point out nobody has heard the tape, which is true, and he loses it. Classic Vitale move. He’s going to the grave defending Pitino and letting Wade have it. (RELATED: The MarchMadness Bracket Has Been Released)

That’s the kind of passion that has made him a star on the mic.

The good news for LSU is that they don’t seem to be struggling without Wade leading the way. They’re slated to play Friday night against Michigan State, and it should be a great one.